How much does a good flute cost?
It would depend on the level of the player. For a beginner, I'd recommend something less than $1000. Any more seems to be excessive. At an intermediate level, a flute would cost between $1000 and $3000. This would include the holed keys and a B foot. If you really enjoy playing the flute, a flute that is between $3000 and $6000 would be enough to play any piece very well. I'd say this would be the final flute to purchase unless you are considering to play professionally. I've once attended a master class where the professor’s flute was $30,000 dollars. It was made of gold and quite a piece of art. But that is only for someone who plays the flute for a living. I hope this answer helps.
I want to start singing and producing music like The Weeknd. What equipment do I need to get started and how much do I have to spend?
Well let’s see. What do you need?USB Mic (100–300€)usb mic - Google SearchYou have them in all price ranges. Of course the higher the price, the higher the quality.Laptop or desktop computer (1000–1500€)Depends if you need to be portable. If not you’re better off with a desktop. A decent one will set you back 1000–1500€ (preferably with i7 processor, 16GB ram or more, decent GPU and SSD drives).Audio interface (100–400€)There’s tons of good interfaces out there. Some brands worth mentioning: RME, M-audio, Motu, Focusrite, Native Instruments.Software (150–600€)Then you will have to pick your DAW. You can probably get trial versions so you can try different programs and buy one that suits you best. They will all have stock plugins to begin with. Check out Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton, FL Studio and Studio One. Those are the most popular sequencers. Here you will produce and record your music with.Speakers (300–2500€)There are a lot of speakers out there and the price per speaker can go up to ten thousands. For a basic setup you will be good with 300–500. If you want the fancier stuff be prepared to spend.Studio (really depends on your room)Last but not least you need a studio space. If you have the money get it acoustically treated. You can have the expensive speakers, but if your room is not treated right you will not hear everything correctly.Conclusion you can get a good setup for 5K + room treatment if you’re really serious about it. If it’s just for experimenting you can start out with 2000€ maximum.Mind you The Weeknd probaly records in million dollar studios, and his albums are usually credited to a lot of other producers . A-list singers usually have a lot of different producers throughout their carreers.
Bestler and Skylark violins?
I'm shopping for a 1/8 cheap violin for my 5yo to start out with (we already have a 1/2 but it is too big; she's been sized up for 1/8). I have a chance to get a used Skylark for 150 (that has been rented out before); I'm also seeing Bestlers in the 90 USD range. Is one of these brands more reliable than the other? I also am considering ordering a Stentor for 200. I'd like to save cash if I can, but not at the risk of buying an intstrument that won't ever stay in tune, etc.
How much is a old acoustic "trump" guitar worth i just saw it in a store for 20 bucks?
Trump was a brand imported by C. Bruno, much the same as their Ventura line. They have been in the musical instrument distribution business since 1834. Your guitar prospect is a student grade Japanese import. On the bright side, the wood is often reasonable quality, the construction is adequate, the action is comfortable and the finishes are fairly decent. I wouldn't classify these instruments as junk although I probably would replace the machine heads if I bought one to play. I think there are plenty of people that appreciate the good qualities of these guitars so I wouldn't say they are something to be avoided. If it's decent and clean you could easily get $50-$75 for it just as a student guitar, more from a vintage Japanese guitar collector. xx